From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org


UMNS# 028-Zimbabwean ministries get boost in communications skills


From "NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>
Date Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:37:13 -0600

Zimbabwean ministries get boost in communications skills

Jan. 18, 2007

NOTE: Photographs and related coverage are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Linda Green*

MUTARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS)-United Methodist clergy and lay people from across Zimbabwe were challenged to be "telescopes" after being trained to tell stories of the church in their areas.

Thirty participants in the Jan. 8-10 training experience at United Methodist-related Africa University learned how to communicate effectively with a computer. For many, the class marked the first time they had used a computer.

Members of the Commission on Communication, the governing body of United Methodist Communications, led the training. The commissioners were in Africa to understand better why the denomination's Central Conference Communications Initiative should be continued and expanded to support communications in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. This was the group's first meeting outside the continental United States.

James Salley, associate vice chancellor of institutional advancement at the university, noted the contributions that church agencies have made to the campus.

United Methodist Communications provided equipment for Africa University's office of information; the United Methodist Publishing House began the college's library; and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries funds a clinic there.

"You make a powerful statement about ministry and who we are with your presence and your gifts," Salley told the commission. "We don't take that lightly."

Magnifying God

Several had never typed their name on a typewriter or knew what a keyboard was. Following one-on-one tutoring, they were able to type paragraphs, even if it was through hunting and pecking. Those with more computer knowledge were provided with instructions on other computer skills, use of e-mail and the Internet, making Power Point presentations, news writing and editing, and newsletter design and editing.

"You have been equipped with communication skills to magnify God," said the Rev. Tafadzwa Mudambanuki, coordinator of the Central Conference Communications Initiative at United Methodist Communications, at the conclusion of the training.

"You have been called to become telescopes for Christ in your respective areas," he said. He encouraged them to magnify God to people who may not know God.

Tendekayi Kanyenze, a member of the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference, called the training valuable and stated that it would carry him further in improving communications in the annual conference.

Before attending the skills training sessions, he was computer literate but had never used Power Point or publisher tools to enhance his ministry. He is now looking forward to creating a conference-level newsletter and encouraging districts and circuits to have their own publications as well.

"I found this to be very valuable. We have been equipped with the knowledge to go out and come up with publications," he said. "Indispensable information has been given to us." He added that he appreciated "the connectionalism bringing us this training."

On Jan. 8, the Rev. Margaret Mukundu entered the training room at Africa University unfamiliar with a keyboard and finger positioning, since she had never typed her name. At the conclusion of the training Jan. 10, she was elated because "I managed to type my name and the assignment I was given."

Apprehensive when the training began, she was now "very, very glad," she said. "I was able to type. It is not perfect, but I am by all means trying." The most important lesson received from the three days, she said, was to use the computer. "I really enjoyed it."

'Ah-ha' moments

Paul Black, a commission member and the director of communications for the Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference, was one of eight commissioners providing the training.

"Throughout my career as a journalist as well as working in the church, communication is at the center and the heart of what we are and who we are," he said.

Over the course of three days, the trainers experienced numerous "ah-ha" moments. Black's moment occurred before arriving at the university and while spending time in the environs of Mutare. "It is very obvious to me that the continent of Africa has so much to offer The United Methodist Church, and if we will truly embrace being global in nature, there are gifts here that have yet to be mined which will benefit the whole church."

For the Rev. Sophirina Sign of the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference, the most significant benefit from the training was learning about writing and creating newsletters, so she can spread news around her circuit in her role as a district communications director.

Before the training, she had thought of communications as primarily talking with others in her area, preaching and teaching, she said. At the end of the training, her perspective had expanded. "It was about informing, about inspiring and about engaging," she said.

She called the training "a great thing that The United Methodist Church has done," especially for church leaders.

Eben Kawadza, chairman of communications for the Zimbabwe West Annual Conference, said attending the training was important to him.

As the principal at a school where typing for computers is taught, "I've never had an interest in it," he said. His definition of communications "had absolutely nothing to do with computers." He thought the training being provided would be the standard how-to-write-and-compile reports variety. "But this is a new dimension that facilitates communications, which simplifies communications," he said.

"My definition of communication has been greatly influenced by the inclusion of computers into the program," he said. "The world of computers has been opened to me for the first time."

Empowered people

At the conclusion of the training, each participant received a certificate from the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive at United Methodist Communications.

The commissioners came to provide training with uncertainty about the curriculum they would put forth or about the skill level of the participants, but "we leave here as people who are empowered," he said.

He encouraged the participants to expand their newly acquired foundational skills. In time, he said, "you will be specialists in some of the skills, and you will be communicating on behalf of the whole church to the whole church."

*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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United Methodist News Service Photos and stories also available at: http://umns.umc.org


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